Shower-bath apparatus.



P. E. YOUNGS. SHOWER BATH APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED r2341. 1907.

950,269. v Patented Feb. 22, 1910.

awuzntoz ANDREW a mumm Moro-mm mm 0 STT SHOWER-BATH APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 11, 1907. Serial No. 356,785.

, To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED ELLIOTT YOUNGS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bellaire, in the county of Antrim and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shower-Bath Apparatus, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to improvements in shower bath apparatus.

The object of my invention is to provide a portable shower bath apparatus which may be used with a small quantity of water, such as may be contained in an ordinary wash tub or even a smaller receptacle, or may be used in shallow water at the edge of a natural stream or pool.

The invention comprises a pump provided with a holder arranged so that it may be held in place by the foot of the user, in combination with a hand connection for operating the movable portion of the pump, and some kind of a spray or spreading device connected to the pump and supplied with water thereby. The spray is preferably in the form of a tube to be placed around the neck of the user, but other spreading devices may be used for the water.

Another object of my invention is to provide a portable apparatus of this character which is light, neat, and the several parts capable of being disconnected and packed in a small box to form a compact elficient apparatus of this character.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1, is a perspective view of my improved shower bath in operation. Fig. 2, is a vertical sectional view partly broken away. Fig. 3, is a top plan View of the portion of the tube surrounding the neck and showing the detachable fastening means. Fig. 4, is a top plan view of the valve carrying casing. Fig. 5, is a vertical sectional view of Fig. 4. Fig. 6, is a vertical sectional view of a modified form of a pump. Fig. 7, is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 2 -2 of Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawings, 1 represents a pump barrel which, as shown, is vertically arranged and provided at its upper end with a hollow actuating rod 17. In the lower end of the pump barrel 1 is placed a foot plate or stirrup 3, forming part of the fixed member of the pump. In the foot .plate 3 is an opening 2, formingthe intake of the pump. Attached to the under side of the foot plate 3 there may be a rubber or other flexible mat to prevent slipping. The purpose of the stirrup 3 is to enable the operator to hold the intake opening 2, of the pump under water. l/Vithin the pump barrel 1, and attached to the upper side of 3 is a valve casing 5 in which is mounted the ball 6 which is normally seated by gravity in the lower end of the casing and forming a valve which closes the lower end of the pump barrel. The said valve casing is stamped or formed of a tube having its lower end turned inwardly forming the annular flange 7 forming a seat for the ball valve 6, while the upper end is provided with the inwardly turned lugs 8 formed integral with the tube and limiting the upward movement of the ball. In the sides of the tube are vertical cuts having the metal turned inwardly at 9 to form vertical guides for the ball which serve to hold it in the center of the valve casing. The upper end of the pump barrel is provided with a packing 10 extending outwardly and forming a tight joint with the pump plunger 11. The said plunger is, as shown, in the form of a cylinder fitting over the pump barrel 1, and the packing 10 forms a tight joint with the inner periphery thereof. The plunger is movable up and down, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

In order to limit the upward movement of the plunger 11 to prevent it from passing off of the pump barrel, I provide the pump barrel with a vertical inwardly-pressed groove 12 which begins at a point above the valve casing 5 and endsat a point considerably below the upper end. The pump plunger has screwed therethrough a screw 13 which enters a block'14' which is slidably mounted in the vertical groove 12, and whereby the said block engages the upper and lower ends of the grooves, and thus limits the upward and downward movement of the plunger.

The upper end of the plunger is contracted at 14 and within said contracted portion is a valve casing 15 provided with a ball 16 which is constructed and arranged the same as the valve casing 5, heretofore described. Connected to'the upper end of the contracted portion 14 of the plunger by screw-threads is a metal pipe 17 which has its upper end curved and providedwith a Patented Feb. 22, 1910.

handle 18, by means of which the plunger out and doubtless pass beyond the tub 21.

In order to prevent this, I provide the socket with a bulged portion 22 extending beyond the threads, the upper end of which engages the interlocking pipe. Any leakage around the threads of the coupling will cause the water to spurt out within the bulged portion and gradually flow out of the upper end and run down the pipe, but preventing the water from spurting or spraying from the tube or pipe. The extended portion also serves as a guide in screwing the threaded parts together, thus preventing cross threading.

The upper end of the pipe is provided with a conical shaped portion 28 over which the lower end of the flexible tube 24 is adapted to be expanded, and to form a tight joint therewith. The outer end of the tube has secured therein a plug 25 which closes the tube and is provided with a loop 26. The said tube, the proper distance from the end, has a looped or hooked portion 27 formed at the center of a single piece of wire, and which passes through the loop 26. The ends '27 of said wire are wound around the tube and the free end of the tube is detachably connected to the tube at the proper place to form a loop which passes around the neck. The flexible tube intermediate the coiled wire and the end is provided with a series of openings 28 through which the water passes from the tube and is sprayed'upon the body. In order to hold the ring a slight distance from the body I provide the same with the inwardly-extending nipples or projections 29 which allow of a free passage of the water from the tube.

In Fig. 6, the pump barrel 1 is constructed similar to that shown in Fig. 2, and has the valve casing 5 in its lower end. The upper end of the barrel is closed by a head 30 and the pipe 17 is connected to the sucker 31 which'carries a packing 32 on its outer periphery, and said sucker has secured thereon the valve casing 38 and ball 34 constructed and arranged as heretofore described, and shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

In operation, the tub 21 is supplied with water. of the desired temperature. The parts are assembled as shown, and the pump is placed within the tub and the operator either places the foot upon the mat 4 or through the foot plate. The perforated portion of the tube is placed around the neck and the hook 27 forced through the loop 26. The flexible tube 2 1 is of a length to allow the operator, by means of the handle 18, to move it up and down without bringing any tension on the loop around the neck, and thus by a very slight movement of the handle and effort upon the operator, a large supply of water is sprayed through the openings 28 with considerable force. Asshown, the pipe 17 may be disconnected from the plunger and uncoupled at the center, thus making a device which can be packed in a very small box, making a compact, simple and effective portable shower bath apparatus.

By reason of the delivery pipe being connected to the upper portion of the pump and having a neck loop adapted to embrace the neck of the user, the delivery pipe is operator supported and in turn supports the-pump when the operator lets go of the handle.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure'by'Letters Patent, is

1. A portable shower bath apparatus comprising a hand pump having an intake at its bottom and an outlet at its upper portion, and a flexible delivery pipe connected to the outlet and adapted to be supported by the operator, substantially as described.

2. A portable shower bath apparatus, comprising a hand pump having an intake at the bottom and an outlet at the upper part thereof, and a flexible delivery pipe connected to the outlet and provided with a perforated neck loop, substantially as described.

3. 1A portable shower bath apparatus comprising a hand pump having an intake at its bottom and a hollow plunger rod forming an outlet for the pump, and a flexible delivery pipe connected to the hollow plunger rod and provided with a perforated neck loop, substantially as described.

l. A portable shower bath apparatus com prising a hand pump having an intake at its bottom and an outlet at its upper end, a footpiece having its tread below the intake, and a flexible delivery pipe connected-to the outlet and provided with a perforated neck loop, substantially as described.

5. A portable shower bath apparatus comprising a hand pump having an intake through its bottom and provided with an outlet adjacent its top, a base support for the pump to support the intake above the bottom of a tub, a foot piece below the intake to hold the pump down during theoperation thereof, and a flexible delivery pipe conthrough its bottom, a stirrup-shaped foot In testimony whereof I aflix my signature piece at theg)Ott0I{11 0]: the pulip tobsuppLort in presence of two witnesses. the intake a ovet e ottom 0 a tu an to receive the foot of an operator for holding FRED ELLIOTT YOUNGS' 5 the pump down against the upward pull of Witnesses:

the plunger, and a spray device associated G. M. YOUNGS, with the pump, substantially as described. I IRA A. ADAMS. 

